The atmosphere is electric within Saint-Paul, which publishes the Luxemburger Wort and Luxembourg Times, among its other titles. Tensions are likely to rise again this Wednesday, as trade unions were expected to send a new communication to the staff.

These will indicate that the three meetings before the national conciliation office have failed. The hope was to find a way out of the social plan announced a month ago, which will see the departure of 74 people from the company. The LCGB points to the fact that management “has shown no willingness to negotiate an extralegal component worthy of the commitment over many years by the 74 employees concerned”.

The opposing side replied that the union demands were so overwhelming that they risked jeopardising the future of the company.

Individual layoffs

Saint-Paul management will therefore now be able to proceed with individual dismissals, “in accordance with the collective agreement.” Trade unions have already announced that each case will be brought before the appropriate courts. Of the employees concerned, those who will be invited to leave Saint-Paul are somewhat trapped: either they accept the conditions of their dismissal, or they bring the case to court and start a procedure which can take months or longer.

Saint-Paul, which was acquired by Belgian media company Mediahuis in April, aims to accelerate its digital transformation and strengthen operational efficiency. In September a leaked memo from Mediahuis management to its staff blamed the current crisis for the decision to lay off staff, which they said aims “to maintain profitability and develop good prospects for the future.”

This social plan would have been the fourth in 20 years.

This article was originally published in French on Paperjam.lu and has been translated and edited for Delano.